Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 179, Section 178: Shanglin Afang Palace [Seeking monthly votes]

Qin Shi almost laughed.

The king sent over a dozen boxes of gifts this time.

Physical contact, intimate intercourse, and mutual pleasure are evident...

It is indeed a way to bring people's hearts and minds closer together.

For example, she could now vaguely guess that Ji Heng's frequent gifts were partly because he genuinely disliked her plain appearance, and partly to demonstrate to everyone his respect for the Queen.

After all, if any other noblewoman were to become the Queen of Qin, her family would have countless riches and jewels to support her.

But he had nothing of value. He had given everything to the King of Qin. Even if the King only took half of the medicine, the rest was of little use to him as a means of survival.

If he doesn't bestow more gifts, even a queen of high status would find it difficult to get by if she were penniless.

And now, on the second day after being crowned queen, she has been bestowed even more rewards...

Is this how a typical straight man tries to make a move?
If you value someone, do you spend a lot of money on her?

This shows that the magnanimity of this feudal monarch had already surpassed that of many men who had received an education in equality.

well.

She loves it.

As for Ganquan Palace...

She has only been here for about 20 days, and if you include Ganquan Palace, she will have to move three times.

At this moment, the maid presented her with the geomantic map. She glanced at it briefly and then asked, "If I wish to make major alterations to it, would the date of the palace relocation be an obstacle?"

Now that coal is readily available, it would be most appropriate to build a few more firewalls at Ganquan Palace, if nothing else.

Fire walls and heated brick beds were not gradually implemented until after the Han Dynasty. At that time, although there were simple fireplaces in the Qin King's palace, the palace was spacious and tall, and the heat that firewood could provide was far from sufficient.

It's almost mid-August now, and the New Year will surely come with the onset of severe cold, so she needs to prepare early.

Zhou Ju bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. All matters in the harem, including such trivial matters, are naturally decided by Your Majesty."

Qin Shi became satisfied.

That was her real purpose in becoming queen.

Previously, if she wanted to renovate the palace, she would have had to carefully choose her words and consult with the King of Qin. Only after receiving his approval would she order the Imperial Household Department to send craftsmen to assist…

Although Ji Heng was quite tolerant and granted all requests, these were all trivial matters, big and small. If major changes were involved, more questions would be needed, and the other party would likely become impatient very quickly.

The geomantic map was accepted, and just then, a servant served Zhou Ju tea. Qin Shi offered him a seat to the side, and at that moment, seemingly casually, he said:

"His Majesty is meticulous and cherishes the Queen dearly. Today, he noticed that the Queen seems to have a particular fondness for pearls, and therefore ordered the South Sea Prefecture to present an even larger and rounder pearl..."

Qin Shi paused in his smile.

The previous box had already deeply moved her, even causing her some slight worry and pressure. Now, if she were to offer another one...

Moreover, pearl harvesting always requires the right timing, location, and people; none of these can be lacking.

Large pearls do exist nowadays, but those that are large, round, and have a smooth and delicate texture are extremely rare.

To increase the probability of success, the base number of pearl divers would have to be expanded again and again before the New Year. At that time, who knows how many pearl divers would be forced into the sea by officials...

She loved everything about pearls and gemstones, but she didn't have any particular favorite.

Besides, even if she truly loves pearls, if they become too heavy to carry, she probably won't be able to appreciate them purely.

Qin Shi's expression remained unchanged; he merely slightly raised his teacup and casually offered a respectful toast from afar.
“I already know Your Majesty’s intentions.”

Zhou Ju smiled slightly.

At that moment, he casually changed the subject again:
“My words are not mere flattery; they are truly a testament to Your Majesty’s favor and respect.”

“In the morning, the King also instructed me to send a message to the Queen, saying that the King intends to build a separate palace in Shanglin Garden, which will include the harem, government affairs, and military training grounds, making it even more grand and spacious than Xianyang Palace.”

"Therefore, she even specially sent us to inquire of the Queen whether she wanted to give this palace a magnificent name." This move was truly taken very seriously.

Naming palaces has always been a privilege reserved for the monarch.

And since the King has this idea, this brand-new palace might very well replace the Xianyang Palace in the future. Yet now the right to name it has been given to the Queen…

Qin Shi clenched his fist instantly.

Shanglin Garden, such a vast palace—

“Ah Fang.”

She murmured, a sweeping sense of destiny welling up within her.

Zhou Ju was taken aback, wondering why she had such an expression again. Was she overjoyed?

Thinking again about the name of the palace that had just slipped out, he couldn't help but murmur and recite, "Epang Palace."

After clarifying which two words they were, I silently wrote them down:

【阿】 means 【近】, and 【房】 means palace.

The Queen blurted out only the name "Near the Palace," could it be a simple way of addressing her, with a formal name to be decided later?
"Your Majesty, I will certainly report back to you."

Qin Shi smiled slightly and said nothing more.

How did the Xianyang Palace, with its towering buildings rising from the ground, come to be built from nothing?
He then conscripted millions of laborers to cover the soil with yellow earth, layer by layer, using wooden and stone hammers and manpower to pound and flatten it.

After countless days of piling up, the loess layers became hundreds and thousands of layers, as hard as stubborn rock, and could not be easily dug open, only then was the foundation completed.

In the history she knew, the Epang Palace, located in Shanglin Garden, took several years to lay its grand foundation.

But before the palace walls were even completed, they were set ablaze by Xiang Yu.

Throughout history, countless magnificent buildings, as jewels as pearls, have been swallowed up and destroyed by the flames of war.

Even though the restoration of the Epang Palace could bring unprecedented miracles and grandeur, at this moment, in the present Qin state, it is not a time for such things to happen.

All it can hold is human lives.

Qin Shi let out a slight breath, then smiled at Zhou Ju and said:

"Excuse me for the government order."

"Now I am fortunate to be the Queen of Qin, and this is all thanks to Your Majesty's respect and love."

"To express my gratitude for Your Majesty's kindness, I would like to, in Your Majesty's name, levy 30,000 shi of coal and a number of artisans, and have them tour the various parts of my Qin Kingdom."

"Firstly, to promote the king's benevolence and virtue, thereby attracting wise men from all over the world to come and assist him."

"Secondly, we should promote the use of honeycomb briquettes and ceramic stoves for heating."

"If such a life-saving technique can be mastered, I hope that Your Majesty will once again tour the east and west, and wherever you go, the people will cheer you on."

"With such a great reputation, Your Majesty should be considered a sage ruler for all time."

The cake was drawn to be large, round, and fragrant. Zhou Ju only had to smell it to feel his heart flutter and tremble inexplicably.

A sage ruler for all ages...

That's right! Their king is indeed king!
His gaze was intense, and he dared to...
Looking up, he thought: No wonder she's the Queen! He's learned something new today!

Ah, with these words to say, what can't be accomplished?
Let alone a mere 30,000 shi of coal, even 300,000 would be readily granted by Your Majesty!

Then, somewhat dazed, he stood up and bowed deeply once more.

"Your Majesty, I will now report this to you."

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　　(End of this chapter)